Welcome to the new world order (or is it disorder) where we stand witness to dramatic shifts – tariffs, political upheaval, wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan rising geopolitical tensions, and growing uncertainty about the future. This constant change has become the new normal.
So, the question is: How do we cope when “shift happens”? How do we lead, and how do we stay connected with the communities we serve?
These were the questions we posed while presenting to fundraisers and nonprofit professionals at the recent Western Canada Fundraising Conference (WCFC). We called our session “Shift Happens” because when it does, there is the potential for a community of leaders and fundraisers to collide. So how do we avoid the collision? What can we do?
When “shift happens” we need more from our leaders
During our session at WCFC, participants responded to a live survey asking what traits they most valued in a leader. Integrity was number one. Trust, listening, honesty, mentorship, authenticity, honesty and intelligencealso ranked highly.
Participants spoke of the importance of staying calm under pressure and staying true to the mission. Because when shift happens, we don’t stop fundraising. When a crisis hits, we continue to ask. And when uncertainty prevails, we don’t back away – we intensify our relationships with donors through empathy, understanding, transparency, and commitment.
When shift happens, communities need more from us
As fundraisers and leaders in the social impact sector, we’ve all thought about how to connect with community when the world shifts under our feet.
We’ve all heard the cautions:
“Oh, we can’t bother them now.”
“Just think about what they are going through.”
“It’s the worst possible time to get in touch.”
But when shift happens—when a crisis hits our communities—we must communicate more, not less. That communication still needs to be strategic and relevant, but we must look for ways to connect authentically—to open up about our own challenges, offer help, and to focus not just on the problem, but the collective solutions.
What is needed most during times of change?
A recent Gallop study, conducted across 52 countries and territories covering 76% of the global adult population and 86% of GDP, asked what people need the most from their leaders. While the question was not posed in the context of shift happening, the findings of this study are insightful for what followers need most from their leaders:
Hope, trust, and compassion are not abstract concepts; they’re essential qualities that we must embody as leaders in uncertain times.
When shift happens, we need more from each other
Towards the end of the session, we sat in an open circle and shared take-aways and insights from our time together; fundraiser to fundraiser, professional to professional.
Here’s what we heard our participants say, when “Shift Happens”:
The shift isn’t slowing down, but neither are we
As fundraisers, leaders, and community members, we must acknowledge that pace and scope of change will only continue to increase. While we can’t control when or how the shift happens, we can control how we respond.
The insight from our participants at WCFC was clear: We are not alone.
In times of crisis, we need to lean on each other, act with urgency and lead by example. Whether it’s through tough conversations or leading with integrity, our collective actions and shared values will guide us and our mindset, ability to lead with clarity, empathy, and focus, will define the future.
Let’s keep moving forward. Let’s lead by example and let’s remain steadfast in our commitment to our missions because only through action, can we turn shift into progress.
Tony Myers brings his 35 years of experience working with leaders of NPO leaders and fundraisers on 6 continents to his role as CEO of Leaders of Tomorrow Canada Foundation providing emerging leaders and mid-career professionals with a dynamic and life-changing leadership development program that works. tony@myerscan.com
Sana Mahboob is a passionate leader with deep experience in philanthropy, public service, and global development. A sought-after speaker, she has addressed global audiences on topics such as leadership, anti-Black racism, innovation through hackathons, public service ethics, values-based giving, and building compassionate, connected communities.
